Re: Bed Sores

[Guest guest]

Dear Courage

Thank you for your encouraging words. I spoke to my

pastor today and he helped me to know that the church

is there for me if I need anything at all. He also

prayed for me which helps give me great strength. I

got some good news today. Kaiser will send out a

hospice nurse on Tuesday. Pray all goes well. Thanks

again

Dena

--- gaat wrote:

> HI Dena,

>

> Gosh, did I ever get this feeling (and still do

> somethimes!!!!!!!!)

> When mom first went into care, in fact, when we were

> just even calling

> for appts to check out NH/LTCF I was overwhelmed

> with guilt and

> sadness. I cried like a river at the drop of a hat

> and had such a hard

> time sleeping. I'm sure we could have gone another

> 6 months or so

> keeping mom at home but there was no denying that

> the transition into

> care was going to have to come. I survived this

> period by taking each

> day at a time as it hurt like hell to think of mom

> not living at home.

> However, once we got mom out of the first NH we

> selected (she stayed

> there a week)- it was a huge old n house

> that we though would be

> " cozy " and more like home than the newer facility

> type buildings - I

> started to notice how things were run and over the

> next little while I

> was able to leave mom with other members of the

> family and staff. Up

> until that time, I was at the NH first thing in the

> morning and left

> when she went to bed at night. If anything, I was

> spending more time at

> the NH than I was when she was at home. It took a

> while to trust others

> to care for mom but once I took that leap it was

> amazing how much more

> rested and present I was able to be with mom. When

> you have been the

> one to do all the heavy lifting/worrying it sure is

> nice to have someone

> come and help you. You are not letting you, you are

> joining hands.

> I have said in the past and will continue to say it

> in the future " a

> person's NH experience will be as good as their

> family makes it. " I got

> to know the staff, the NH schedule and worked with

> it. They knew that

> we were heavily invested in mom so they became

> invested in her too. If

> I was happy with something I let the staff know and

> if I wasn't happy

> I'd let them know that too. It was a period of

> adjustment. I know the

> staff weren't crazy about us at first but they came

> to apppreciate us

> and how we came to care for mom. Also, we finally

> broke down and got

> mom a personal care-giver and she has been with mom

> ever since and onto

> this new LTCF which we like even better than the

> last place. This place

> has been mom's third new home so don't be afraid to

> move her if the fit

> isn't right.

> Sending you much strength. Our responsiblilty and

> love for our parents

> do not end when they enter care. We just get some

> much needed help to

> continue along this journey.

> Courage

>

> Dena LEAVITT wrote:

>

> > Dear Courage

> >

> > Thank you for info on mole skin. I have a

> caregiver in

> > tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to get to a

> > medical supply store.

> > You have all been great with your suggestions, but

> I

> > really am starting to lean toward residential

> care. I

> > think. My mom is hardly walking and her head hangs

> so

> > low that I had to hold it up while she was under

> the

> > dryer today at the hair salon. This is a really

> bad

> > day. And all I want to do is cry. I feel like I am

> > having an emotional break down or something is

> wrong

> > with me. Do you ever do this?

> >

> > Dena

> >

> > --- gaat wrote:

> >

> > > Dena,

> > > My heart is going out to you. No matter how

> well we

> > > care for our LO's

> > > the reality is that they are going downhill but

> it

> > > sure doesn't help us

> > > feel any better.

> > > We used this product that works like a second

> skin.

> > > It is large patches

> > > that we cut to size and they cover the bed sore

> so

> > > that moisture doesn't

> > > get in and has a chance to heal. Check out your

> > > local pharmacy. The

> > > one I use at home for blisters for tight or new

> > > shoes is called Mole

> > > Skin and it works like a charm.

> > > Sending you strength.

> > > Courage

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________

> > Yahoo! DSL � Something to write home about.

> > Just $16.99/mo. or less.

> > dsl.yahoo.com

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathy

Thank you for your words on bed sores. It sounds like

your poor Mom was totally neglected at the nursing

home. That is exactly what I am afraid of with my mom.

She is very, very passive. She does not talk much

ever, unless she is speaking to the hallucination

people. And I am afraid she will be left in a corner

and neglected. I plan to be there most of the

day...but there is only so much a person can do and

then they rest is left up to the facility. I hope you

called and complained about the place. Reported them

to the authorities. I have moved your message to my

LBD folder to keep as a reference. Thank you

Dena

--- STEVE & KATHY WARD wrote:

>

> Dena

>

> My mother had the worst bed sore that anyone at

> the nursing home had seen in years(their quote, not

> mine) when she arrived there from the first

> LTC...Versa Care. It was a huge hole in her back

> and smelled absolutely gross (which Versa Care had

> told me was normal for bedsores). She moved in

> April to the place she is in now and has been

> receiving proper care and treatment since. She

> still has the bedsore but it is much improved.

> Instead of being the size of three silver dollars

> with a bridge of skin in the middle it is now down

> to the size of one silver dollar and is no longer

> deep but has filled in quite a lot. How did it get

> there? Lack of turning, not being changed enough,

> being left in a gerry chair on her back on the

> bedsore (it is right on her spine at her

> tailbone)all day, where the heat of her body against

> the leatherette of the chair created " pressure " .

> When it began to smell and look gooky, I asked if it

> could be infected. I was told no, that bedsores are

> like

> that...I had no idea and trusted them.

>

> How did it improve? Well, she is on a special

> airbed by KCI. She is supposed to be in bed without

> a diaper, on a special pad that lets air circulate.

> The airbed is computer controlled and changes the

> pressure automatically. Mom now gets up for

> breakfast and stays up until after lunch. She sits

> in a tilt wheelchair (that is not tilted at all) to

> allow her to sit on her behind and back of legs

> instead of leaning on the tailbone. She sometimes

> slips forward and I tilt the chair, adjust her by

> placing my arms under her armpits and lifting gently

> upward. This is hard as she has contracted leg

> muscles caused by her being in bed 18 to 22 hours a

> day at the first nursing home, with little or no

> physio...She has an air cushion on the wheelchair

> that also works to keep pressure off the sore. The

> skin specialist uses specialty bandages (very

> expensive but covered by health plan if she

> recommends the same as the air bed). They use an

> over the counter medicated skin cream called

> intrasite gel and cover it with the " mepilex "

> bandages. Her nutrition was improved by Ensure Plus

> protein drink and supplements which are added to it

> as well as her regular meals. She weighed about 87

> lbs. She was so sick when she first got to the 2nd

> nursing home, she was too tired to chew so I had her

> meals changed to " minced " so she would eat more

> before getting tired. She would go to bed after

> lunch as she was too uncomfortable to sit up, and

> too exhausted to stay awake. She could hardly

> speak, was sleeping almost all the time and I

> believe she would have died within a couple of weeks

> had I not gotten her out of the hell hole she was in

> when I did!

>

> She is now so much better. We have conversations,

> she is alert, smiles and jokes. She complains more

> than ever about the pain of her back and the

> burning, often asking me for water to put on it...I

> gently rub the spot while I am visiting (about 20

> times in an hour) and this gives her relief. I have

> asked for some sort of pain killer, but the best

> they can do is give her tylenol (two regular). I

> don't want her to be doped out on morphine or

> something else, so she manages on that. I can

> hardly wait until it is completely healed and she

> can be comfortable sitting again. I once thought

> she would die with the sore but now I believe that

> it will heal and she will not have to endure the

> pain of it until death.

>

> I don't know if this helped you at all, but please

> if it smells, get it professionally seen

> immediately. They can die from infection and they

> do suffer enough with LBD. Mom was placed on

> antibiotics immediately when she entered the home

> she is now in and I believe that is why she has come

> back so well, due to the infection leaving her body

> and people genuinely caring for her, while they care

> for her.

>

> It was a rough rough road. It is not over yet and

> I know there is much LBD horrors to come but for now

> we are winning the bedsore battle and if you can get

> help now before it gets to deep and wide it will

> heal in a reasonable timeframe. Mom has had a few

> on her ankles which heal in a couple of days with

> the right treatment. They come and go, but are

> stage 1 or 2. Her back was a stage 4 and I think

> you could probably see to the bone if you looked

> hard enough.

>

> I blamed myself for the bedsore being so bad

> because I had no idea what bedsores were like and I

> trusted those who worked daily in the nursing home

> to know. They didn't know or didn't care. They had

> virtually given up on mom. I didn't though. I may

> have blamed myself for not doing anything sooner but

> I did what I could to the best of my knowledge. I

> know that you are doing the best that you can do and

> will help her as best as you can. You are a great

> daughter and she is lucky to have you. You are

> tired and fed up with this disease and want to blame

> yourself for what is happening when it is you that

> is the hero in all of this. Pat yourself on the

> back for getting this far on your own. If it is

> time to place your mom, don't despair. Find a good

> one, and if it turns out to be bad, find another one

> and get her moved. In the end, you are still going

> to be doing alot, and in doing all you can when you

> are there, and then having time to recover before

> the next visit you will be

> coping much better and having a better experience

> with your mom. Be very visible at the nursing home,

> talk to other residents, staff and managers. If

> there is a problem, voice your concerns in a

> respectable way, but don't take no for an answer.

> Even at the good place, I have had a few problems,

> but by being persistent, not letting things go,

> constantly reminding and asking them what is

> happening with a certain concern, there have been

> positive changes made and I know that my job will

> continue on until my mother passes, as will yours.

>

> Big hugs your way,

>

> Kath in Toronto

>

> DORIS KARATOPRAK wrote:

> Hi Dena,

>

> My mom is still independent and I am dreading the

> day that we have to make that same decision. But I

> am relying on professionals to help me determine

> when that time will come. Is there an agency or

> doctor who could maybe do an assessment on your mom

> to help you decide what to do? There must be a point

> beyond which you would not be able to take care of

> her without permanently damaging yourself either

> physically, emotionally or psychologically. You will

> still be involved in her caregiving but you would

> have the help of the professionals. When my dad was

> in the nursing home and had a bed sore, they put on

> a special cream but also had a special dressing to

> cover it. Maybe a pharmacy could help suggest

> something. Take care of yourself. You are doing your

> best. I can relate to your frustration. Doris in

> Canada

>

> Dena LEAVITT wrote:

> Hi Everyone

>

> I am feeling so frustrated right now. We just

> returned

> from the Dr. My Mom has yet another bed sore. She

> has

> them on her ears, butt, heals, the bone that sticks

> out of her ankle and now the back of her calf. I can

> do nothing right!! I am just so frustrated and feel

> like crying. I try to turn her and put neosporin on

> the wounds constantly. Like every time she goes to

> the

> bathroom, but they bleed and then stop, then bleed

> and

> then stop. It is the a merry-go-round effect. Now

> the

> Dr has prescribed 1% silver sulfadiazine cream to

> help

> with healing process and has referred us to wound

> care. I have used an egg crate and booties for her

> wounds and I just feel like I am fighting a uphill

> battle every day.

>

> Is is time to place her in a residential care or

> facility that can care for her better?

>

> I know that the time is drawing close. She cannot

> stand alone and cannot sit without help. She is not

> bedridden yet, but almost. She walks about 10 feet

> from bathroom to bedroom a day. Then the rest of the

> time I use the wheelchair to transport her from

> living

> room to bathroom. She wears a diaper and cannot fed

> herself. I do just about everything for her now. So

> my

> question is this. Is it time to place her or do I

> just

> keep up trying to do the best I can? How do you know

> when it is time? I am waiting for a sign from God. I

> have had many signs, but I think that I am the one

> hanging on here and not her. I feel like I am

> throwing

> in the towel and quitting if I place her in a

> facility

> too soon. So since she is still walking I have

> waited.

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Sadly I did not have the time or energy to do anything but get mom the Hell out

of there. I have felt guilty for not doing more but I did have my own health

and mom to worry about as I am doing it all...maybe one day I will do more but

for now I am focussing on the positive and living the best I can visiting mom,

cleaning out her house and spending time with family as permitted.

I have only so much energy and I don't want to spend it writing letters of

complaints that may well be ignored. Instead I have great visits with mom that

I will remember forever.

Kath

Dena LEAVITT wrote:

Dear Kathy

Thank you for your words on bed sores. It sounds like

your poor Mom was totally neglected at the nursing

home. That is exactly what I am afraid of with my mom.

She is very, very passive. She does not talk much

ever, unless she is speaking to the hallucination

people. And I am afraid she will be left in a corner

and neglected. I plan to be there most of the

day...but there is only so much a person can do and

then they rest is left up to the facility. I hope you

called and complained about the place. Reported them

to the authorities. I have moved your message to my

LBD folder to keep as a reference. Thank you

Dena

--- STEVE & KATHY WARD wrote:

>

> Dena

>

> My mother had the worst bed sore that anyone at

> the nursing home had seen in years(their quote, not

> mine) when she arrived there from the first

> LTC...Versa Care. It was a huge hole in her back

> and smelled absolutely gross (which Versa Care had

> told me was normal for bedsores). She moved in

> April to the place she is in now and has been

> receiving proper care and treatment since. She

> still has the bedsore but it is much improved.

> Instead of being the size of three silver dollars

> with a bridge of skin in the middle it is now down

> to the size of one silver dollar and is no longer

> deep but has filled in quite a lot. How did it get

> there? Lack of turning, not being changed enough,

> being left in a gerry chair on her back on the

> bedsore (it is right on her spine at her

> tailbone)all day, where the heat of her body against

> the leatherette of the chair created " pressure " .

> When it began to smell and look gooky, I asked if it

> could be infected. I was told no, that bedsores are

> like

> that...I had no idea and trusted them.

>

> How did it improve? Well, she is on a special

> airbed by KCI. She is supposed to be in bed without

> a diaper, on a special pad that lets air circulate.

> The airbed is computer controlled and changes the

> pressure automatically. Mom now gets up for

> breakfast and stays up until after lunch. She sits

> in a tilt wheelchair (that is not tilted at all) to

> allow her to sit on her behind and back of legs

> instead of leaning on the tailbone. She sometimes

> slips forward and I tilt the chair, adjust her by

> placing my arms under her armpits and lifting gently

> upward. This is hard as she has contracted leg

> muscles caused by her being in bed 18 to 22 hours a

> day at the first nursing home, with little or no

> physio...She has an air cushion on the wheelchair

> that also works to keep pressure off the sore. The

> skin specialist uses specialty bandages (very

> expensive but covered by health plan if she

> recommends the same as the air bed). They use an

> over the counter medicated skin cream called

> intrasite gel and cover it with the " mepilex "

> bandages. Her nutrition was improved by Ensure Plus

> protein drink and supplements which are added to it

> as well as her regular meals. She weighed about 87

> lbs. She was so sick when she first got to the 2nd

> nursing home, she was too tired to chew so I had her

> meals changed to " minced " so she would eat more

> before getting tired. She would go to bed after

> lunch as she was too uncomfortable to sit up, and

> too exhausted to stay awake. She could hardly

> speak, was sleeping almost all the time and I

> believe she would have died within a couple of weeks

> had I not gotten her out of the hell hole she was in

> when I did!

>

> She is now so much better. We have conversations,

> she is alert, smiles and jokes. She complains more

> than ever about the pain of her back and the

> burning, often asking me for water to put on it...I

> gently rub the spot while I am visiting (about 20

> times in an hour) and this gives her relief. I have

> asked for some sort of pain killer, but the best

> they can do is give her tylenol (two regular). I

> don't want her to be doped out on morphine or

> something else, so she manages on that. I can

> hardly wait until it is completely healed and she

> can be comfortable sitting again. I once thought

> she would die with the sore but now I believe that

> it will heal and she will not have to endure the

> pain of it until death.

>

> I don't know if this helped you at all, but please

> if it smells, get it professionally seen

> immediately. They can die from infection and they

> do suffer enough with LBD. Mom was placed on

> antibiotics immediately when she entered the home

> she is now in and I believe that is why she has come

> back so well, due to the infection leaving her body

> and people genuinely caring for her, while they care

> for her.

>

> It was a rough rough road. It is not over yet and

> I know there is much LBD horrors to come but for now

> we are winning the bedsore battle and if you can get

> help now before it gets to deep and wide it will

> heal in a reasonable timeframe. Mom has had a few

> on her ankles which heal in a couple of days with

> the right treatment. They come and go, but are

> stage 1 or 2. Her back was a stage 4 and I think

> you could probably see to the bone if you looked

> hard enough.

>

> I blamed myself for the bedsore being so bad

> because I had no idea what bedsores were like and I

> trusted those who worked daily in the nursing home

> to know. They didn't know or didn't care. They had

> virtually given up on mom. I didn't though. I may

> have blamed myself for not doing anything sooner but

> I did what I could to the best of my knowledge. I

> know that you are doing the best that you can do and

> will help her as best as you can. You are a great

> daughter and she is lucky to have you. You are

> tired and fed up with this disease and want to blame

> yourself for what is happening when it is you that

> is the hero in all of this. Pat yourself on the

> back for getting this far on your own. If it is

> time to place your mom, don't despair. Find a good

> one, and if it turns out to be bad, find another one

> and get her moved. In the end, you are still going

> to be doing alot, and in doing all you can when you

> are there, and then having time to recover before

> the next visit you will be

> coping much better and having a better experience

> with your mom. Be very visible at the nursing home,

> talk to other residents, staff and managers. If

> there is a problem, voice your concerns in a

> respectable way, but don't take no for an answer.

> Even at the good place, I have had a few problems,

> but by being persistent, not letting things go,

> constantly reminding and asking them what is

> happening with a certain concern, there have been

> positive changes made and I know that my job will

> continue on until my mother passes, as will yours.

>

> Big hugs your way,

>

> Kath in Toronto

>

> DORIS KARATOPRAK wrote:

> Hi Dena,

>

> My mom is still independent and I am dreading the

> day that we have to make that same decision. But I

> am relying on professionals to help me determine

> when that time will come. Is there an agency or

> doctor who could maybe do an assessment on your mom

> to help you decide what to do? There must be a point

> beyond which you would not be able to take care of

> her without permanently damaging yourself either

> physically, emotionally or psychologically. You will

> still be involved in her caregiving but you would

> have the help of the professionals. When my dad was

> in the nursing home and had a bed sore, they put on

> a special cream but also had a special dressing to

> cover it. Maybe a pharmacy could help suggest

> something. Take care of yourself. You are doing your

> best. I can relate to your frustration. Doris in

> Canada

>

> Dena LEAVITT wrote:

> Hi Everyone

>

> I am feeling so frustrated right now. We just

> returned

> from the Dr. My Mom has yet another bed sore. She

> has

> them on her ears, butt, heals, the bone that sticks

> out of her ankle and now the back of her calf. I can

> do nothing right!! I am just so frustrated and feel

> like crying. I try to turn her and put neosporin on

> the wounds constantly. Like every time she goes to

> the

> bathroom, but they bleed and then stop, then bleed

> and

> then stop. It is the a merry-go-round effect. Now

> the

> Dr has prescribed 1% silver sulfadiazine cream to

> help

> with healing process and has referred us to wound

> care. I have used an egg crate and booties for her

> wounds and I just feel like I am fighting a uphill

> battle every day.

>

> Is is time to place her in a residential care or

> facility that can care for her better?

>

> I know that the time is drawing close. She cannot

> stand alone and cannot sit without help. She is not

> bedridden yet, but almost. She walks about 10 feet

> from bathroom to bedroom a day. Then the rest of the

> time I use the wheelchair to transport her from

> living

> room to bathroom. She wears a diaper and cannot fed

> herself. I do just about everything for her now. So

> my

> question is this. Is it time to place her or do I

> just

> keep up trying to do the best I can? How do you know

> when it is time? I am waiting for a sign from God. I

> have had many signs, but I think that I am the one

> hanging on here and not her. I feel like I am

> throwing

> in the towel and quitting if I place her in a

> facility

> too soon. So since she is still walking I have

> waited.

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________

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Just $16.99/mo. or less.

dsl.yahoo.com

Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

[Guest guest]

HI Arlene,

Check you pharmacy for a bandaid that is like second skin. You cut it

to the size you need and it keeps the sore dry so that it can heal. I

found a brand called Mole Skin.

Best,

Courage

Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

>

> I just discovered a bed sore on my husband and am wondering what is

> currently being used as treatment. I have some antibiotic ointment

> here which I used

> and then covered it with a bandaid so it wouldn't rub off. Arlene

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

At the nursing home they are using a bandage (I believe it is medicated) called

Mepilex. It is very expensive but is covered if the ET nurse okays it. That

and the special computerized air bed that mom has, has resulted in the bed sore

that literally was like three silver dollar sized holes in her back on her

tailbone that were completely joined under a piece of skin in the middle being

reduced to one dollar sized hole that is filling in nicely and hardly needs

packing. It has been almost a year (April) since she began this ordeal. She

has had the odd one come and go on her heel but they seem to heal okay. The

most important thing is repositioning every 2 hours and not allowing pressure to

remain on the area of the bed sore. They are also giving mom a protein drink

(Ensure Plus) to boost her protein and calories as it takes lots of energy to

heal these damn things.

Kath

gaat wrote:

HI Arlene,

Check you pharmacy for a bandaid that is like second skin. You cut it

to the size you need and it keeps the sore dry so that it can heal. I

found a brand called Mole Skin.

Best,

Courage

Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

>

> I just discovered a bed sore on my husband and am wondering what is

> currently being used as treatment. I have some antibiotic ointment

> here which I used

> and then covered it with a bandaid so it wouldn't rub off. Arlene

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the tip, Gerry. Arlene

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure Arlene, but I think it take stronger stuff than that for bed sores,

from all I have read.

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the Thistle, the

LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

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Bed sores

[Guest guest]

J. Chapp

Red Barn Investments

1101 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 245

Northbrook, IL 60062

Fax

mchapp@...

Bed sores

[Guest guest]

Hi Kath

I have a question for you. Did you say that the

computerized air bed helped make the bed sores worse

or better? I was just wondering because my Mom's

hospital bed with air bed arrives in the morning. I

guess wanted to know what to expect.

Thanks, Dena

--- STEVE & KATHY WARD wrote:

> At the nursing home they are using a bandage (I

> believe it is medicated) called Mepilex. It is very

> expensive but is covered if the ET nurse okays it.

> That and the special computerized air bed that mom

> has, has resulted in the bed sore that literally was

> like three silver dollar sized holes in her back on

> her tailbone that were completely joined under a

> piece of skin in the middle being reduced to one

> dollar sized hole that is filling in nicely and

> hardly needs packing. It has been almost a year

> (April) since she began this ordeal. She has had

> the odd one come and go on her heel but they seem to

> heal okay. The most important thing is

> repositioning every 2 hours and not allowing

> pressure to remain on the area of the bed sore.

> They are also giving mom a protein drink (Ensure

> Plus) to boost her protein and calories as it takes

> lots of energy to heal these damn things.

>

> Kath

>

> gaat wrote:

> HI Arlene,

>

> Check you pharmacy for a bandaid that is like second

> skin. You cut it

> to the size you need and it keeps the sore dry so

> that it can heal. I

> found a brand called Mole Skin.

> Best,

> Courage

>

> Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > I just discovered a bed sore on my husband and am

> wondering what is

> > currently being used as treatment. I have some

> antibiotic ointment

> > here which I used

> > and then covered it with a bandaid so it wouldn't

> rub off. Arlene

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

It definitely without a doubt makes them better. They will probably recommend

that she stay in bed 18 to 22 hours a day. My mother got bad contractions in

her leg muscles and will never walk or stand again because she spent too much

time in bed with no physiotherapy for her hip (she broke it and had hip surgery,

but never had much physio). I can't remember if your mom can walk/stand at all.

If not, reposition her frequently (every 2 hours or so), and alternate between

getting up for meals and staying in bed. You can also get a special air cushion

for the wheelchair, to prevent the pressure sores. It is the constant pressure

that causes the sores and skin can break down in as little as two hours. If she

is in a nursing home (sorry I can't remember) then make sure that she is without

pants or diaper and on the special pad that comes with the air bed. Many times

mom was/is put to bed without the removal of pants and then the treatment and

healing doesn't work. The air circulating

through this special pad and the constant shift in pressure are what helps.

That and the medicated (very expensive) bandages that they used. And if the bed

sore smells it is probably infected. Don't let anyone tell you that it is

" normal " for bedsores to smell that way. I didn't know and my mother almost

died because of this.

Kath

Dena LEAVITT wrote:

Hi Kath

I have a question for you. Did you say that the

computerized air bed helped make the bed sores worse

or better? I was just wondering because my Mom's

hospital bed with air bed arrives in the morning. I

guess wanted to know what to expect.

Thanks, Dena

--- STEVE & KATHY WARD wrote:

> At the nursing home they are using a bandage (I

> believe it is medicated) called Mepilex. It is very

> expensive but is covered if the ET nurse okays it.

> That and the special computerized air bed that mom

> has, has resulted in the bed sore that literally was

> like three silver dollar sized holes in her back on

> her tailbone that were completely joined under a

> piece of skin in the middle being reduced to one

> dollar sized hole that is filling in nicely and

> hardly needs packing. It has been almost a year

> (April) since she began this ordeal. She has had

> the odd one come and go on her heel but they seem to

> heal okay. The most important thing is

> repositioning every 2 hours and not allowing

> pressure to remain on the area of the bed sore.

> They are also giving mom a protein drink (Ensure

> Plus) to boost her protein and calories as it takes

> lots of energy to heal these damn things.

>

> Kath

>

> gaat wrote:

> HI Arlene,

>

> Check you pharmacy for a bandaid that is like second

> skin. You cut it

> to the size you need and it keeps the sore dry so

> that it can heal. I

> found a brand called Mole Skin.

> Best,

> Courage

>

> Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > I just discovered a bed sore on my husband and am

> wondering what is

> > currently being used as treatment. I have some

> antibiotic ointment

> > here which I used

> > and then covered it with a bandaid so it wouldn't

> rub off. Arlene

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >